Bai Ji
by Gurnam Bhullarft Gill Raunta
ਨਾਮ ਚੱਲਦੇ ਨੀ ਮਿੱਤਰਾ ਚਲਾਉਣੇ ਪੈਂਦੇ ਆ
nAma challade nI mittarA chalAuNe paiMde A
Reputations don't just stay alive, yours truly [Mitran: this friend/yours truly] has to keep them running
ਜਿਹੜੇ ਉੱਡਦੇ ਅਸਮਾਨੀਂ ਭੁੰਜੇ ਲਾਉਣੇ ਪੈਂਦੇ ਆ
jiha.De uDDade asamAnIM bhuMje lAuNe paiMde A
Those who soar too high in the skies, I have to bring them down to earth
ਨਾਮ ਚੱਲਦੇ ਨੀ ਮਿੱਤਰਾ ਚਲਾਉਣੇ ਪੈਂਦੇ ਆ
nAma challade nI mittarA chalAuNe paiMde A
Reputations don't just stay alive, yours truly [Mitran: this friend/yours truly] has to keep them running
ਜਿਹੜੇ ਉੱਡਦੇ ਅਸਮਾਨੀਂ ਭੁੰਜੇ ਲਾਉਣੇ ਪੈਂਦੇ ਆ
jiha.De uDDade asamAnIM bhuMje lAuNe paiMde A
Those who soar too high in the skies, I have to bring them down to earth
ਵਾਪਸੀ ਕਹਾਉਂਦੇ ਜਿਹੜੇ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਦੇ
vApasI kahAuMde jiha.De sa਼hira de
Those who claimed to be the kings of the city's comeback
ਬਹਾਰ ਵਾਲੀ ਰੁੱਤ ਵਿਚ ਸ਼ੌਕ 'ਤੇ
bahAra vAlI rutta vicha sa਼auka 'te
Were put in their place in the prime of their season
ਐਵੇਂ ਕਿਤੇ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਕਹਿੰਦੀ ਐ ਬਾਈ ਜੀ
aiveM kite dunIA kahiMdI ai bAI jI
The world doesn't just call me "Respected Brother" [Bai Ji: a term of respect for an elder brother/leader] for no reason
ਰਿਹਾ ਮੁੱਢ ਤੋਂ ਵੈਲੀ ਦਾ ਡੇਰਾ ਡਾਂਗ 'ਤੇ
rihA muDDha toM vailI dA DerA DAMga 'te
Since the beginning, the outlaw's [Vailey: a person with a reputation for fighting/outlaw lifestyle] power has rested on his staff [Dang: a traditional thick wooden quarterstaff used as a weapon]
ਐਵੇਂ ਕਿਤੇ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਕਹਿੰਦੀ ਐ ਬਾਈ ਜੀ
aiveM kite dunIA kahiMdI ai bAI jI
The world doesn't just call me "Respected Brother" [Bai Ji: a term of respect for an elder brother/leader] for no reason
ਰਿਹਾ ਮੁੱਢ ਤੋਂ ਵੈਲੀ ਦਾ ਡੇਰਾ ਡਾਂਗ 'ਤੇ
rihA muDDha toM vailI dA DerA DAMga 'te
Since the beginning, the outlaw's [Vailey: a person with a reputation for fighting/outlaw lifestyle] power has rested on his staff [Dang: a traditional thick wooden quarterstaff used as a weapon]
ਫੋਕੀਆਂ ਜਮਾਉਂਦੇ ਸੀ ਬੜਕਾਂ
phokIAM jamAuMde sI ba.DakAM
They used to shout hollow threats and roars
ਉਹ ਗਿੱਲ ਰੌਂਤਿਆ ਕੱਢੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਰੜਕਾਂ
uha gilla rauMtiA kaDDhIAM ne ra.DakAM
But Gill Raunta [Self-reference to the song's lyricist] has settled all their old scores
ਫੋਕੀਆਂ ਜਮਾਉਂਦੇ ਸੀ ਬੜਕਾਂ
phokIAM jamAuMde sI ba.DakAM
They used to shout hollow threats and roars
ਉਹ ਗਿੱਲ ਰੌਂਤਿਆ ਕੱਢੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਰੜਕਾਂ
uha gilla rauMtiA kaDDhIAM ne ra.DakAM
But Gill Raunta [Self-reference to the song's lyricist] has settled all their old scores
ਪਾਲੀ ਬੈਠੇ ਸੀ ਜੋ ਵਹਿਮ ਵੈਲਪੁਣੇ ਦੇ
pAlI baiThe sI jo vahima vailapuNe de
The delusions they harbored about their own toughness
ਕੂਕਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਡੋਲੂ ਵਾਂਗੂੰ ਮਾਂਜ 'ਤੇ
kUkiAM de DolU vAMgUM mAMja 'te
I scrubbed them clean like a Namdhari's brass vessel [Kookean da dolu: reference to the Namdhari sect's famously sparkling clean metal milk containers]
ਐਵੇਂ ਕਿਤੇ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਕਹਿੰਦੀ ਐ ਬਾਈ ਜੀ
aiveM kite dunIA kahiMdI ai bAI jI
The world doesn't just call me "Respected Brother" [Bai Ji: a term of respect for an elder brother/leader] for no reason
ਰਿਹਾ ਮੁੱਢ ਤੋਂ ਵੈਲੀ ਦਾ ਡੇਰਾ ਡਾਂਗ 'ਤੇ
rihA muDDha toM vailI dA DerA DAMga 'te
Since the beginning, the outlaw's [Vailey: a person with a reputation for fighting/outlaw lifestyle] power has rested on his staff [Dang: a traditional thick wooden quarterstaff used as a weapon]
ਐਵੇਂ ਕਿਤੇ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਕਹਿੰਦੀ ਐ ਬਾਈ ਜੀ
aiveM kite dunIA kahiMdI ai bAI jI
The world doesn't just call me "Respected Brother" [Bai Ji: a term of respect for an elder brother/leader] for no reason
ਰਿਹਾ ਮੁੱਢ ਤੋਂ ਵੈਲੀ ਦਾ ਡੇਰਾ ਡਾਂਗ 'ਤੇ
rihA muDDha toM vailI dA DerA DAMga 'te
Since the beginning, the outlaw's [Vailey: a person with a reputation for fighting/outlaw lifestyle] power has rested on his staff [Dang: a traditional thick wooden quarterstaff used as a weapon]
ਮੂਹਰੇ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ-ਕਹਾਉਂਦੇ ਲਾ ਕੇ ਤੋਰੇ ਆ
mUhare kahiMde-kahAuMde lA ke tore A
I've made the so-called "big shots" walk before me in submission
ਬੜੇ ਭੂਤਰੇ ਸਾਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਿੰਗ ਭੋਰੇ ਆ
ba.De bhUtare sAnhAM de siMga bhore A
I've shattered the horns of many crazed, charging bulls
ਮੂਹਰੇ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ-ਕਹਾਉਂਦੇ ਲਾ ਕੇ ਤੋਰੇ ਆ
mUhare kahiMde-kahAuMde lA ke tore A
I've made the so-called "big shots" walk before me in submission
ਬੜੇ ਭੂਤਰੇ ਸਾਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਿੰਗ ਭੋਰੇ ਆ
ba.De bhUtare sAnhAM de siMga bhore A
I've shattered the horns of many crazed, charging bulls
ਜਿਗਰੇ ਨਾਲ ਜੱਟ ਨੇ ਖਿਲਾਰ 'ਤੇ
jigare nAla jaTTa ne khilAra 'te
With pure courage, this Jatt [Jatt: a member of the land-owning agricultural community known for pride and lifestyle] has scattered them
ਜਾਲ ਵੈਰੀਆਂ ਵਿਛਾਏ ਲੰਘੇ ਲਾਂਭੇ 'ਤੇ
jAla vairIAM viChAe laMghe lAMbhe 'te
I stepped right over the traps my enemies laid out
ਐਵੇਂ ਕਿਤੇ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਕਹਿੰਦੀ ਐ ਬਾਈ ਜੀ
aiveM kite dunIA kahiMdI ai bAI jI
The world doesn't just call me "Respected Brother" [Bai Ji: a term of respect for an elder brother/leader] for no reason
ਰਿਹਾ ਮੁੱਢ ਤੋਂ ਵੈਲੀ ਦਾ ਡੇਰਾ ਡਾਂਗ 'ਤੇ
rihA muDDha toM vailI dA DerA DAMga 'te
Since the beginning, the outlaw's [Vailey: a person with a reputation for fighting/outlaw lifestyle] power has rested on his staff [Dang: a traditional thick wooden quarterstaff used as a weapon]
ਐਵੇਂ ਕਿਤੇ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਕਹਿੰਦੀ ਐ ਬਾਈ ਜੀ
aiveM kite dunIA kahiMdI ai bAI jI
The world doesn't just call me "Respected Brother" [Bai Ji: a term of respect for an elder brother/leader] for no reason
ਰਿਹਾ ਮੁੱਢ ਤੋਂ ਵੈਲੀ ਦਾ ਡੇਰਾ ਡਾਂਗ 'ਤੇ
rihA muDDha toM vailI dA DerA DAMga 'te
Since the beginning, the outlaw's [Vailey: a person with a reputation for fighting/outlaw lifestyle] power has rested on his staff [Dang: a traditional thick wooden quarterstaff used as a weapon]
ਪਿੱਠ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਇੱਕ ਧੀੜ ਬੜੀ ਭੌਂਕਦੀ
piTTha pichChe ikka dhI.Da ba.DI bhauMkadI
A pack of cowards barks a lot behind my back
ਡਾਂਗ ਸਾਡੀ ਨਾਲ ਟੌਹਰ ਬਣੀ ਚੌਂਕ ਦੀ
DAMga sADI nAla Tauhara baNI chauMka dI
But my staff ensures my swagger [Taur: stately pride/prestige] rules the town square
ਡਾਂਗ ਸਾਡੀ ਨਾਲ ਟੌਹਰ ਬਣੀ ਚੌਂਕ ਦੀ
DAMga sADI nAla Tauhara baNI chauMka dI
But my staff ensures my swagger [Taur: stately pride/prestige] rules the town square
ਪਿੱਠ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਇੱਕ ਧੀੜ ਬੜੀ ਭੌਂਕਦੀ
piTTha pichChe ikka dhI.Da ba.DI bhauMkadI
A pack of cowards barks a lot behind my back
ਵੈਰੀ ਤਾਂ ਹੀ ਤਾਂ ਬਾਜ਼ਾਰ ਵਿਚ ਟੰਗ 'ਤੇ
vairI tAM hI tAM bAja਼Ara vicha TaMga 'te
That's why I've hung my enemies out in the open market
ਕੀਤੇ ਹਮਲੇ ਸੀ ਯਾਰੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਸਾਂਝ 'ਤੇ
kIte hamale sI yArIAM dI sAMjha 'te
Because they dared to attack the sacred bond of our brotherhood [Yaar: close friends/brothers; carries significant cultural weight regarding loyalty]
ਐਵੇਂ ਕਿਤੇ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਕਹਿੰਦੀ ਐ ਬਾਈ ਜੀ
aiveM kite dunIA kahiMdI ai bAI jI
The world doesn't just call me "Respected Brother" [Bai Ji: a term of respect for an elder brother/leader] for no reason
ਰਿਹਾ ਮੁੱਢ ਤੋਂ ਵੈਲੀ ਦਾ ਡੇਰਾ ਡਾਂਗ 'ਤੇ
rihA muDDha toM vailI dA DerA DAMga 'te
Since the beginning, the outlaw's [Vailey: a person with a reputation for fighting/outlaw lifestyle] power has rested on his staff [Dang: a traditional thick wooden quarterstaff used as a weapon]
ਐਵੇਂ ਕਿਤੇ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਕਹਿੰਦੀ ਐ ਬਾਈ ਜੀ
aiveM kite dunIA kahiMdI ai bAI jI
The world doesn't just call me "Respected Brother" [Bai Ji: a term of respect for an elder brother/leader] for no reason
ਰਿਹਾ ਮੁੱਢ ਤੋਂ ਵੈਲੀ ਦਾ ਡੇਰਾ ਡਾਂਗ 'ਤੇ
rihA muDDha toM vailI dA DerA DAMga 'te
Since the beginning, the outlaw's [Vailey: a person with a reputation for fighting/outlaw lifestyle] power has rested on his staff [Dang: a traditional thick wooden quarterstaff used as a weapon]